Hopefully with the cold snap it could happen. Both bays stopped steaming several weeks ago and we were getting shore ice and skim ice at night until we got the warm weather.

If it can grab hold it will make ice fast.

To be "officially" frozen West Bay has to freeze about six miles out just past Power Island. Of course we fish the years when the ice only makes it out a mile or two although it is not "officially" frozen.

1997 to 2002 the bays did not "officially" freeze. Other than that there has never been a stretch of more than 3 years with out an official freeze dating back to 1853.

Hope you are all right. Now that I have family back up there it would be nice to get out. Last time I was out there was in 2004 and I remember fishing well into April. It seamed like it was the winter that wouldn't quit. Guys fished up and down both bays.

Walked out about a hundred yards or so, had about 3" of ice maybe a bit more. would not be surprised if someone starts fishing it today.Personally I like a little more ice, especially on the larger bodies of water.

At 600' its deeper than West Bay, its also narrower and usually freezes first.

West bay still has areas of open water. But if the wind stays down and the cold temps hang, things look promising

Hey Joe, I haven't fished steelhead on traverse through the ice but have on Betsie. We used spawn and Wiggler's but not on tip ups. We used 6ft rods with a strike indicator and rod propped up on the ice, might be a good place to try one of those auto fishing rigs.